Russia’s Nasa Equivalent, Roscosmos, recently announced their plan to develop their own VR headsets dubbed Falcon-1 (XR-1) and Sokol-1 (XR-2). These headsets would be used for training at the Cosmonaut Training Center and for designers visualizing their designs.
The headsets are designed entirely in-house with Russian hardware and software. It uses laser-based tracking similar to SteamVR devices like the Valve Index or HTC Vive Pro. While it can operate independently with its own api and sdk, it will be compatible with the SteamVR platform.
Falcon-1 will be the first one produced boasting 1440p per eye with a 90/120hz refresh rate at 105° field of view. The more advanced Sokol-1 is coming later touting a 2880p display, 90/120hz refresh rate and 157° field of view. While the Falcon-1 is similar to other current headsets in the industry, the Sokol-1 is a step up in regards to resolution and field of view, allowing for a more immersive experience.
Competition in the XR space, especially with VR headsets is always good for innovation. If Roscosmos new headsets are able to pull off what they plan to achieve, it can be a new goal post for other manufacturers to look towards meeting.
